A tree is ‘felled’ when it is cut down. Traditionally this was done using a hand axe or long saw

Felled trees are cut into manageable lengths to be converted into timber planks and boards

rough sawn finishes:
when the sides and edges are not smooth you will feel a coarse texture and most likely get splinters.

planed all round (PAR) finishes:
a smooth finish which makes it extremely versatile It will require less finishing

Air Drying the boards are stacked and divided by narrow pieces of wood The stack is slanted to facilitate drainage of rain.

Seasoning timber reduces its moisture content. Two methods of seasoning are air or kiln drying

Kiln Drying the wood is placed in a structure in which heat, humidity, and air circulation are carefully controlled by fans and steam pipes.

Faults can occur as timber dries.
Bowing
Splitting / cracking
Springing
Cupping
Twisting

Lamination is the technique of layering materials using heat, pressure and adhesives. Veneers (thin layers) are layered with the grain direction

Manufactured boards come in large sheets, often made from waste or recycled wood and adhesives

Compression uses adhesives, heat and pressure to combine shreds, chips or pulp to produce a larger board

Veneer can be made by rotating a tree trunk on a large industrial machine similar to a wood lathe

They are readily available

They can be cut and shaped using common tools

They can be formed and bent using jigs and moulds

They can be joined using a variety of joints and fixings